DeKalb voters react morning of 2022 midterm elections
November 8, 2022
DeKALB – It’s midterm Election Day, which means Illinoisans can cast votes for governor, congress and other local positions within Illinois politics. Individuals voting in DeKalb discuss their experience voting in the midterm elections.
Kit Stewart
(Chicago resident and NIU student who early voted)
Kit Stewart, an NIU student and Chicago resident, sharing their experience with voting in the 2022 midterms. (Abbi Sweeney)
Is this the first election you took part in?
“No, I first voted in the Joe Biden election (2020).”
Did you have any difficulty voting?
“No, it was pretty simple.”
Why did you vote early?
“I felt I was more prepared about what’s happening this year. Growing up, I was surrounded by a lot of women in my family. Voting now is important, not just to me.”
Who did you vote for?
“I voted for (Lauren) Underwood.”
Mike and Karen Giuliano
(DeKalb residents who voted on Election Day)
Mike and Karen Giuliano sharing their experiences with voting in the 2022 midterm elections. (Abbi Sweeney)
Is this the first election you took part in?
Mike: “No, my first election was Gerald Ford.”
Karen: “Mine was (Ronald) Reagan.”
Did you have any difficulty voting?
Mike: “No difficulty. Very smooth. 23 years of voting, never had an issue.”
Why did you vote today?
Mike: “We like to vote on Election Day. It’s sort of a tradition.”
Karen: “Going out and doing our part on the day of.”
Mike: “We did it to make sure the right people get in the right positions.”
Karen: “And every vote counts.”
Who did you vote for?
Mike: “Darren Bailey. Illinois gotta get its fiscal house in order. The lockdown was horrendous. I feel like he’ll put us back on track. I don’t want to have our kids forced to be vaccinated.”
Karen: “I voted Bailey too. I come from a conservative state and have that point of view. I look at the candidates, see what they stand for and go from there.”
Alex Newquist
Alex Newquist, a DeKalb resident standing in the parking lot of his polling place just after voting on Tuesday. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)
Is this your first time voting?
“No.”
Did you have any difficulty voting?
“No.”
Why did you vote today?
“It is our responsibility to cast our opinions.”
How do you feel about voting?
“It is very important.”
Any ties to NIU or to the community?
“I graduated from NIU in 2014 as an applied mathematics student and later on went back for a teaching position.”
John Sherman
DeKalb resident John Sherman, with his two children Henry and Lucy, after voting on Tuesday morning in DeKalb.(Sean Reed | Northern Star)
Is this your first time voting?
“No.”
Did you have any difficulty voting?
“No.”
Why did you vote today?
“I’m exercising my constitutional right to vote.”
How do you feel about voting?
“It’s very, very important; I bring my children with me every time I vote.”
Any ties to NIU or the community?
“I am a lifelong resident of DeKalb and have lived here since 1978.”
Jeff Whelan
Jeff Whelan, a DeKalb resident, standing outside of First United Methodist Church on Tuesday in DeKalb after voting in the midterm elections. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)
Is this your first time voting?
“No.”
Did you have any difficulty voting?
“No.”
Why did you vote today?
“Midterms are very important, this year especially.”
How do you feel about voting?
“I think it is important. I think it’s unfortunate that many people don’t believe it is.”
Any ties to NIU or the community?
“I’ve been a resident of DeKalb since I was four and this (First United Methodist Church) has always been my polling place … Democracy can exist as long as the population participates.”
Lavelle Randle
DeKalb resident Lavelle Randle after voting on Tuesday at First United Methodist Church. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)
Is this your first time voting?
“No.”
Did you have any difficulty voting?
“No, I was in and out in five minutes.”
Why did you vote today?
“Because my voice counts. If everybody says ‘I don’t want to vote,’ there will be no change.”
How do you feel about voting?
“I started voting 10 years ago, and it’s important because you never know who you may inspire to vote.”
Candy Anderson
Candy Anderson, DeKalb resident standing outside of her polling place on Tuesday morning after voting with her husband. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)
Is this your first time voting?
“No.”
Did you have any difficulty voting?
“No.”
Why did you vote today?
“To change the country.”
How do you feel about voting?
“I feel it is very important. I haven’t missed an election since I was 18.”
Any ties to NIU or the community?
“I was born and raised in DeKalb. Growing up, we always had season tickets to NIU football and basketball games.”